Machine for repairing knitted fabrics



June 23, 1931.

J. 5. PECKER 1,811,331 MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed May 11. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet '1 ATTORNEY I June 23, 1931. J. 8. PECKER MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Hay 11, 1929 \qwd Mw d ywmwwm wmw m d mv w w w w w w ,4 m

ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. J. s. PECKER 1,811,331

MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed May 11, 1929 e Sheet-Sheet s ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. J. s. PECKER MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed May 11. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. 5, ER 1,811,331

MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Filed May 11, 1929 B SheetS-Sheet 5 31/ W 7 66' I .9 .9 77 W 67 .36

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6'4 4&6 0 Q I" qg 6' 1d 'lIIII/In ATTORNEY June 23, 1931. 5, PECKER 1,811,331

MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS F iled May 11. 1929 GSheetS-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVELOIMENT (70., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MACHINE FOR REPAIRING KNITTED FABRICS Application filed May 11, 1929. Serial No. 362,386.

The invention relates to a machine and looping the threads of a run and means cooperating with the needle for enabling the stocking to be repaired to be stretched in repair position and to be held at opposite to sides of the slot by the hands of the Operator and to have the tension of the threads of the stocking controlled by the operator and the successive threads of the run fed to the needle without the hands of the operator releasing 20 their grip on the fabric,'whereby the stretching of the stocking, the tensionmg of the threads thereof, and the feeding of the stocking to the needle, may be simultaneously performed by hand.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a machine of this character which will possess all the advantages of a power actuated machine in the operation of the needle and all of the advantages of hand so manipulation of an expert operator in stretching the stocking and tensioning the threads thereof and feeding the same to the needle so that the stretching or tensioning and the feeding may be adapted to the par- 35 ticular character of the stocking to be repaired, whereby stockings having the finest threads as well as stockings having the heavier threads may be repaired without liability of breaking the threads or otherwise injurea ing the stockings.

A further object of the present invention is to equip the machine with means for adjusting the needle bar vertically to raise and lower the same independently of the 45 needle reciprocating mechanism to change the position of the needle with respect to the said mechanism to accommodate difi'erent types of needles.

A further object of the invention is to 50 provide a cam mechanism for reciprocating the needle to enable the speed of the needle to be controlled and varied when necessary during the reciprocation thereof to adapt the machine to the particular type of needle employed and the specific character of the thread looping operation thereof, as well as to adapt the operation of the needle to hand fed fabrics.

Another object of the invention is to provlde illuminating means arranged interiorly of the machine and adapted to project rays of light through the slot of the fabric supporting form to lightnp the threads of a runso that the cross threads will stand out distinctly and show clearly to the operator the threads to be fed to the needle.

Another object of the present invention resldes in the provisions of a machine or method for mending runs in fabrics equipped with a power actuated needle for loop ing the threads of a run and with which is adapted to cooperate a manually operable slidable fabric supporting form which may be operated by hand at the will of the operator for the purpose of feeding the threads of a run successively to the power actuated needle, and thereby efi'ect a closing of the run.

Another object resides in the provision of a machine for mending runs in fabrics equipped with means for manipulating the threads of the run to close the latter, such means cooperating with means to support the fabric, one of the said means being arranged in a predetermined definite position and the other means being slidable by hand at the will of the operator relative to the said means located in definite position so as to permit the threads of the run to be successively presented to the means for closing the run.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stocking repairing machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional View of the same, partly in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the stocking repairing machine. taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal view of the same taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the needle.

Fig. 7 is a detail transversesectional view illustrating another form of friction surface for holding the fabric.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the rear portion of the stocking holding form.

Fig. 9 is a detail edge view of one of the horizontal form supporting bars, partly in section.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the stocking holdinglever.

ig. 12 is a detail side view thereof.

In the accompanying is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stocking repairing machine comprises in its construction a single vertically movable needle bar 1 adjustably held in a vertically reciprocating needle bar carrier 1 mounted in a hollow head 2 of a tubular or hollow arm 3 of a suitable frame 4 which may be constructed of any desired material, and which can be mounted upon a table or other support (not shown) in any suitable manner, as will be readily understood. The frame 4 is preferably provided at the base with a rear transverse rib 45 which is rounded at the lower face, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to form a fulcrum on which the frame is adapted to be tilted to raise and lower the front portion of the frame. The frame is secured in such pivotal adjustment by means of spaced adjusting screws 4* mounted in threaded openings 4 in the front portion of the base of the frame and provided with knurled heads and equipped with looking nuts 4 which clamp the upper face of the front portion of the base, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The spaced vertical ad usting screws 4* and the rear transverse rib form a firm support for the frame, so that there will be no liability of accidental lateral tilting of the machine. Any other suitable means may, of course, be provided for adjusting the machine and for securing the same in its adjustment.

drawings, in which The head 2 is provided at the top and bottom with vertically aligned guide openings 2* through which the needle bar carrier slides, and the said needle bar is equipped at its lower end with a needle 5 detacha'bl secured in a socket in the lower end 0 the needle bar by a set screw 6. In practice, the head 2 is of a sectional character to enable the parts to be readily assembled. The needle bar carrier 1 consists of a tube or sleeve in which the needle bar 1 is adjustably held by an adjusting screw l mounted in a threaded socket 1 in an enlargement of the upper end of the needle bar carrier and having a knurled head 1 which engages a groove 1 in the adjacent side of the upper end of the needle bar -1, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The screw is adapted to be rotated to raise and lower the needle bar 1 with respect to the needle bar carrier, to position the needle properly 'with relation to the work. By rotating the adjusting screw 1 the needle may be raised or lowered relatively to the needle bar carrier 1 This will enable the vertically reciprocating needle bar to be adjusted to accommodate different kinds of needles and to permit the latter to be used in the stocking repairing machine.

The, needle bar carrier is provided with a horizontal arm 7, preferably formed iitegral with a collar 7 which is interiorly threaded and engages an exteriorly threaded portion of the needle bar carrier, as indicated at 7", the collar being preferably held against accidental rotary movement by a stop 7 mounted in a threaded perforation of the collar 7. The arm 7 is engaged by a coiled spring 8 for yieldably urging and moving the needle bar downwardly, and the spring 8 is arranged on an adjusting screw 9 and is interposed between the arm 7 and the upper wall of the chamber of the hollow head. The adjusting screw 9, which is threaded into the top ofthe hollow head at 10, extends through an opening 10 in the horizontal arm 7 and is adapted to position a collar or head 11 at the proper elevation for limiting the downward movement of the needle by forming a stop for the said arm 7. The collar or head 11, which is preferably secured on a reduced terminal portion of the screw 9 by a pin 12 or other suitable fastening device, forms a stop or abutment for the arm 7 of the needle bar carrier, to limit the downward movement of the needle bar, the coiled spring forcing the needle bar to the limited position in its downward movement; and the arrangement of'the adjusting screw in the opening of the said arm 7 provides a guide for the arm and the needle bar carrier to prevent any rotary movement of the same. in the bearings of the head 2 of the hollow arm 3. While the needle bar carrier is illustrated in the accompanying fixed to the shaft in mounted in any other drawings as being of tubular or cylindrical formation, it may be of an other desired form and the vertically a 'ustable needle bar i may be of any desired configuration in horizontal section.

The needle, needle bar, and needle bar carrier are positively moved upwardly bymeans of a cam actuated lever 13 fulcrumed intermediate of its ends at the rear end of l the hollow arm 3 of the frame of the machine on a transverse pin or ivot 14 to form front and rear arms. The f f-ont arm of the lever extends to the needle bar carrier and is provided at its front end with an antifriotion roller 15 which bears'against the lower face of the horizontally projecting arm 7. The anti-friction roller 15 is mounted on a suitable pin or pivot 16 projecting laterally from the inner side of the lever 13, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. When the front arm of the lever is swun upwardly by means hereinafter describe the needle bar carrier will be positively raised, and when the front arm of the lever 13 swings downwardly will be moved downwardly by the coiled spring 8. The rear arm of the lever 13 is arranged at an obtuse angle to the front arm of the said lever, and is provided with a roller 19 which operates in a groove 20 of a cam 21 keyed or otherwise fixed to a transverse shaft 22. The transverse shaft 22 is journaled in suitable bearings 23 and 24 in the sides of the frame of the machine, and it is extended beyond one side of the frame, and is equipped with a hand wheel 25 and a grooved pulley 26 keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 22 and preferably formed integral with each other, or they may be formed in any other desired manner and be any suitable way. The connected by a belt 27 with a grooved pulley 28 of the power shaft 29 of an electric motor 30, preferably secured to the frame of the machine at the back thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, but the motor may be desired position on the frame, as will be readily understood.

When the shaft 22 is rotated by the motor 30, the cam 21 will be rotated and the lever 13 will be oscillated. When the front arm of the lever 13 moves upwardly it will lift the needle bar and the spring 8 will move the needle bar downwardly during the downward movement of the front arm of lever 13. In practice, the speed of the motor will be controlled by a suitable treadle-operated grooved pulley 26 is rheostat, so that the treadle and the needle will be reciprocated speed.

The needle is provided at its lower end with a hook 31 which has a swinging latch 32 pivoted at 33 above the hook 'as shown in Fig. 6. When the pivoted latch 32 is opened vertically at the desired y it exposes the hook 31', and when the latchis closed it covers the throat or opening leading into the hook and forms an eye. -The last perfect loop of the stocking at the run or rip is placed in the hook 31, and as the needle descends the loop slides upwardly on the shank of the needle, opening the latch and moving upward on the needle until the atch is released. When the latch is released, it drops by gravity and falls over the next cross thread of the run in the stockin The loop remains on the shank of the nee le, and as the needle rises the hook catches the said thread and the latch closes over the hook forming an eye and encasing or enclosing and confining the thread in the eye of the needle. The thread is then pulled up through said loop, forming another loop, and this process is continued until all of the cross threads are looped back into the fabric.

It will be understood that, while but one type or construction of needle is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the invention is not limited to' any particular type of needle, and various forms of needles may be employed.

The fabric or stocking to be repaired is arranged on a slidable form 34.- arranged in substantially a horizontal position and consisting of a hollow or tubular member substantially oblong in cross section and provided with a tapered front portion 35, the taper being formed by the upward curving the bottom of the tubular member at the front thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. of the tubular member is substantially flat and is provided with a central longitudinal slot 36 to provide a passage for the needle 5, and it has friction surfaces at opposite sides of the slot 36. The friction surfaces 37 at opposite sides of the said slot 36 are formed by fine ribs and intervening grooves, which are adapted to prevent the fabric from slipping and Which enables the fabric to be held in proper position with the cross threads of a run arranged in properly manually tensioned spaced relation so as to be fed to and successively operated on by the needle. A relatively large portion of the fabric or stocking to be repaired may be stretched over the form and held at opposite sides of the needle slot by the operator, and is fed by hand to the needle by sliding the form inwardly or rearwardly. This permits the fabric to be held by the operator at each side of the needle, and to be fed simultaneously to the needle without the the stocking. By tis means, the stocking to be repaired may be manipulated by an expert operator with all of the advantages of hand repairing, in that the stocking may be stretched and arranged to suit the character of the material, without injuring the bars.

- marginal flanges and at the same time of a power operated through the vertical with smooth side portions to enable it to be conveniently grasped and held by the oper-' ator. The form is provided at opposite sides with longitudinal guidegrooves 38, and it is supported and guided friction rollers 39 and 40 mounted on horizontal form supporting bars or'plates 41 and bearing against the grooves 38 ofv the form at the top and bottom walls of the said grooves. The rolls 39 bear against the top walls of the grooves 38, and the rollers 40 bear against thelower walls thereof. The rollers are mounted on suitable pins or pivots which .are preferably in the, form of s rews 42 having heads countersunk-in the anti-friction rollers, and the threaded portions of the screws engage threaded .openings in the bars 41. The front ends 43 of the horizontal form supporting bars are bent inwardly at right angles and extend into the grooves-38, as clearly illustrated in Fig.-

4 of the drawings from catching on the ends of the supporting The form supporting bars are suitably secured to the sides of the frame 4 in grooves 44 formed in the inner faces of the. sides of the -frame, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawin s. The slidable form, which'may be of so cient length to accommodate a relatively ing, is adapted to extend through an open ing 45 in the back of the frame of-the machine, and therear end of the tubular form is closed by a plug or plate 46, recessed at its edges to fit within the form and to provide 47 which abut agalnst the rear end edges of the said form. The plug or closure plate is secured to the rear end of the form by. means of screws 48 or other suitable fastening devices.

The said plug or plate 46 supports a tube 49 arranged within the form and threaded at its rear end 50 in an opening-51 in the closure plate or plug 46 and carrying an electric light socket 52 at its inner or front end. The electric light socket is adapted to receive an electric light bulb or lamp 53 in the ordinary manner, to provide an interior illumination, so that the operator will have light from the inside of the form, showing clearly the runs to be mended. The tube 49, which is constructed of metal or other suitable material, forms a conduit for an electric cord '54. The closure plug 46 carries the electric lightand is adapted to be readily removed for removal of the electric light when required.

In practice, the operator pulls the form to prevent the stockings tion surface.

.fore placing by means of antibent intermediate large portion of a stockl forward or outward-and stretches the stocking over it and arranges the run on the fric- The grooves and ribs of the friction surface'do not correspond to the number of cross threads in a stocking, but are arranged so as to permit the threads of a run to be placed on the form according to the best judgment of the operator. Be-

the stocking on the form, the operator presses shown) which pulls down a rod 55 connected at its upper end at 56 to the rear arm of a lever 57 fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on a transverse shaft 58 at one side of the frames of the machine and angularly of its ends to provide an intermediate angularly disposed portion 57 which arranges the front portion of the lever 57 centrally of the machine and in the plane of the longitudinal slot 36 of the stocking supporting form. The front end of the lever 57 carries a stocking engaging foot 59 and feed disks or rolls 60 located at opposite sides of the front portion of the lever 57 slightlyin rear of the foot. y

The foot 59 has spaced side portions which bear u on the fabric of the stocking at opposite si es of the slot 36, and the needle, for holding the fabric in position whilethe cross threads of a run are being manipulated by. the needle to close the run. The pair of rolls or disks 60 which are mounted on a suitable shaft-or pivot 61, operate to assist in holding the stocking in proper position while feeding the stocking or other fabric to the needle through the inward or rearward sliding movement of the form. The feed disks or rolls are provided at their peripheries with friction surfaces 62 preferably formed by fine transverse ribs and intervening grooves and adapted to cooperate with the friction surfaces of the form and with the foot in guiding the work and holding the same 'on the form.

The foot, which has spaced side portions, operates at opposite sides of the longitud'nal slot 36 of the form and is provided with an attaching shank 63 secured to the front end of the lever 57. The lever 57 is arranged exteriorly of the frame of the machine, and when it is desired to hold the foot 59 and the feed roll 60 elevated, the rear arm of the lever is depressed and engaged by a cam 64 mounted on one side of the frame on an eccentric pivot 65 which is preferably in the form of a screw.' The cam is provided with asuitable operating member 64 projecting horizontally from the cam and arranged eccentrically thereof to enable the cam to be readily rotated on the pivot 65.

The needle baris also adapted to be held in an elevated position by means of a manually operable device consisting of a horizontal shaft or pivot 66 having fixed to its outer end an operating handle or arm 67 and down on a foot treadle (not is a apted to be swung upwardly into porting position beneath the projecting portion 7 0. the needle bar carrier. The arm 67 is adapted, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to be arranged in a horizontal. position out of contact with the projecting portion 7 of the needle bar carrier, and is also adapted to be swung upwardly to a vertical position into the path of the said portion 7 for limiting the downward movement thereof to hold the needle bar carrier and the needle in an elevated position out of contact with the material. By means of the cam 64 and the said manually operable device, the guide foot and feed rolls and the needle may be supported in elevated position While the stocking to be repaired is being placed on the stocking receiving form in proper position to be operated on by the needle.

The slidable form is limited in its sliding movement by a stop consisting of a lug 68 projecting upwardly from a plate 69 secured to the frame at the front portion thereof at a supa point beneath the slidable form. The

slidable form is provided in its bottom with a'longitudinal slot 70 into which the lug 68 extends, and the rear wall of the slot 70 is adapted to abut against the lug 68 to limit the outward or forward movement of the form, while the front wall of the slot 70 is adapted to abut against the lug 68 to limit the inward or rearward movement of the form. The plate- 69 is detachably secured to the frame of the machine by a screw 71 and is adapted to be removed when it is desired to remove the formfrom the frame of the machine.

Instead of providing friction surfaces 37 formed by transverse grooves, as heretofore described, the form may be provided at opposite sides of the central longitudinal slot 36 with friction surfaces formed by longitudinal strips 72 of rubber or other suitable material located at opposite sides of the slot 36 and preferably seated in recesses 73 in the upper faces of the form and projecting slightly above the upper surface of the orm, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings. When the form is e uipped with friction surfaces of rubber or ot er material, feed rolls 74. having friction peripheries 75 are preferably used, as shown ln-Fig. 7 The friction surfaces 5 consist of bands or rings arranged on the feed rolls. The elasticity of the rubber bands forming the friction treads of the feed rolls will be ample for retaining the bands on the rolls,-but any'other suitable means may, of course, be employed for this purpose. I 1

The hollow form is provided at the sides and at the top with ventilation openings 76 and 77 to prevent heating of the form and the fabric by the illuminating means. The

carrving at its inner end an arm 67, which i side ventilation openings 76 are arranged'at both sides of the form at spaced points throughout substantially the entire length of the form, and the top openings 77, which are larger than the side openin s, are located in the rear of the slot 36 an the friction surfaces at opposite sides thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, and manually operable -means slidable at will by hand longitudinally of the run for feeding the threads thereof to the needle according to the gage of the fabric.

2. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, and a form constructed to permit a fabric to be stretched over it to support the threads of a run in position to be operated on b the needle, said form being slidable at will by hand longitudinally of the run to feed the threads to the needle according to the gage of the fabric.

3. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, and a form havin a friction surface to support the threads of a run and provided at opposite sides thereof with portions adapted to be grasped by the operator for enabling the latter to simultaneously hold the fabric and the form and slide the form at will to feed the threads to the needle according to the gage of the fabric.

4. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, and a form having smooth portions adapted to be grasped by the operator simultaneously with a fabric supported by the form to enable the operator to tens'pn the threads of the fabric and slide the format the will of the operator to feed the threads to the needle without releasing the gri on the fabric.

5. A machine or mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, and a manually slidable form provided with a needle receiving space and having thread-receiving surfaces at opposite sides of the said'space for supporting the threads of a run said form being slidable backwardly and forwardly at the will of the o erator.

6. A machine or mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means formanipulating the threads of a run to close'th'e latter, and a manually slidable form provided with a needle receiving space and having, thread-receiving surfaces at opposite sides of the said space for enabling the threads of a run to be spaced, said form being also provided with hand receiving side portions for enabling the form and fabric to be simultaneously grasped by the operator and the form and grasped fabric moved.

by the operator accord ng to the gage of the material.

7. A machine for mending runs in fabrics,

including a single needle rovidedwith means for manipulating the t reads ofa run to close the latter, and a manually slidable form provided with a needle receiving-space and having thread-receiving friction surfaces at opposite sides of the said space for enabling the threads of a run to be tensioned and thereby spaced, saidform being also provided with hand receiving side portlons extending longitudinally of the form and adapted to permit the form and the fabric to be-simultaneously grasped by the operator at various points along the fopm and move by the'operator at his will to cooperating position with relation to the needle accord.-

ing to the position of the threads of the run. '8. A machine for mending runsin fabr cs, including a single needle 'provlded with means for manipulating the threads of a run 1.

and a manually slidable to close the latter,

a needle recelvlng space form provided with and having thread-receiving surfaces at oprial side portions posite sides of the said space for enabling the threads of a run to be spaced, said form being also provided with smoothlongitudilocated at opposite sides of the thread receiving surfaces to permit the form and the fabric to be simultaneously grasped by the operator at various points along the form to stretch the fabric, to tension the threads thereof, andato slide the form at the will of the operator-to feed the threads to therneedle.

9. A machine for mending runs in fabrics,inc1uding'a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, manually operable means for supporting and feeding a fabric to the needle having a needle receiving opening, and illuminating means arranged interiorly of the supporting and feeding means and adapted to project rays of light through the needle receiving opening to show clearly the threads to be mended.

10. A machine for mending runs'in fabrics, including a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a relatively long hollow manually operable form arranged to support a fabric to be operated on by the needle and having a longitudinal opening therein, and illuminating means arranged interiorly of the hollow form and movable therewith and adapted to project rays of light through d to the needle,

said opening to show clearly to the operator the threads to be mended.

11. A machine for mending runs in fab- IlCS for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a hollow manually operable form adapted to support a fabric in position 4 to be operated on by the needle and having a needle-receiving opening extending longitudinally-of a run, and illuminating means arranged interiorl of the form and movable therewith and a apted to project rays of light through the said opening adjacent and to said needleto show clearly to the operator the threads to be mended.

12. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a hollow, manually operable form arranged to support a fabric in position to be operated on by the needle and movable to present the threads of a run and a light mounted within and carried by the form and adapted to project said rays of light through said opening to show clearly to the operator the threads,

to 'be mended.

13. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a hollow manually operable form arranged to support a fabric in including a needle provided with means position to be operated on by aneedle, a removable plug closing one end of the form, and an electric conduit carried by the plug and located within the hollow form and provided with a socket adapted to receivej a'n electric light mounted within and carried by the form for illuminating the fabric to show clearly to the operator the threads to be mended.

14. A machine for mending runsin fab- I zontal guide bars provided with antifriction means, a power actuated needle mounted on the frame and provided with means 7 for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, mounted between the guide bars and having grpcves receiving the'anti-friction means.

rics including a frame provided with horizontal guide bars provided with antifriction means, a power actuated needle mounted on the frame and provided with means for maand a slidable form A machine for mending runs in fab-.

nipulating the threads of a run for closin the latter, and aslidable form mounted be.- tween the guide barsand having grooves to receive the anti-friction means of the guide bars, the latter having their outer terminals bent inwardly into the grooves to prevent the fabric catching on the guide bars.

.iixed stop projecting into 17. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including asingle needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, a manually operable slidable form arranged to support a fabric in position to be operated on by the needle, said form being provided below the fabric with a longitudinal slot, and a relatively the slot and forming an abutment adapted to be engaged by the end Walls thereof for limiting the inward and outward movement of the form.

18. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a frame havmg a hollow arm, a vertically reciprocating needle supported by the frame and provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run for closing the latter, a lever extending longitudinally of the arm and fulcrumed between its ends to fbrm front and rear arms, the front arfn cam associated with lating the lever,

the rear arm for osciland a substantially horizontal manually operable form guided on the frame below the hollow ai m and arranged to support a fabric in position to be operated on by the needle.

19. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a manually operable ho]- low form arranged to support the fabric to be operated on by the needle, and illuminating means arranged interiorly of the hollow form and movable therewith and adapted to show clearly to the operator the threads to be mended, said form being provided with ventilating openings for preventing heating of the form and the fabric by the illuminating means.

20. A machine for mending runs in fabrics, including a single needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a hollow manually operable form arranged to support the fabric to be operated on by the needle, and illuminating means arranged interiorly of the hollow form and slidable with the form and adapted to show clearly to the operator the threads to be mended, said form being provided-at opposite sides and at the rear portion of the top with ventilating 'czpenings adapted to prevent heating of the rorm by the illuminating means.

21. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, means movable by hand for actuating the needle, a

g supportin a fabric in gosition to be operat ed on by t e needle, an

having a needle rece1v1n opening, and illuminating means arranged interiorly of-the said movable supportin means and adapted to project the ra s 0 light through said opening on to the fa ric to show clearly the threads to be mended.

22. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including a mechanically? operating needle provided with means for manipulating the threads of a run to close the latter, a hollow member for supporting a fabric in position to be operated on by the needle, and means whereby to manually impart relative movement to.' the needle and hollow member to present the threads of a run successlvely to the needle, and an electric lamp arranged interiorly of the said hollow member and extending longitudinally of the latter and adapted to pro ect rays of light upon the fabric in the vicinity of the needle to show clearly the threads to be mended.

23 A method of repairing runs in knitted fabrics consisting in supporting the fabric, with the ladder-like threads of a run spaced apart, mechanically reciprocating a needle at intervals through the run to manipulate the threads to close the run, holding the fabric by hand at opposite sides of theneedle, and tensioning the threads of the run by hand and while the fabric is thus tensioned sllding the fabric by hand to the needle.

24 A method of repairing runs in knitted fabrics consistingin supporting the fabric with the ladder-like threads of a run spaced apart, mechanically reciprocating aneedle at intervals through the run to manipulate the threads thereof to close the run, holding the fabric by hand at opposite sides of the needle, tensioning the threads of the run by hand, and simultaneously sliding the fabric by hand to the needle.

25. A method of repairing runs in knitted fabrics consistin in supporting the fabric, mechanically reciprocating a needle at intervals through a run in the fabric to manipulate the threads thereof to close the run, holding the fabric by hand at opposite sides of the needle to tension the threads and thereby space he same, and simultaneously sliding the fabric by hand to the needle.

26. A method of repairing runs in knitted fabrics consisting in supporting a relatively large portion of the fabric on a form, ID6- chanically reciprocating a needle at intervals through a run in the fabric to manipulate the threads thereof to close the run, tensioning the fabric by hand to space the ladi the threads of a run large portion of the fabric on a form, mechanically reciprocating a needle at intervals through a run in the fabric to manipulate the threads thereof to close the run, holding the fabric by hand at opposite sides of the needle to tension the same, and thereby space the ladder-like threads of. a run substantially uniformly, and simultaneously sliding the fabric by hand to the needle without changing the position of the fabric on the form.

28. A device of the character described comprising a relatively long, narrow, hollow form to receive a stocking and support a relatively long stretch of the stocking to be mended and provided with a relatively long narrow needle receiving slot, and having longitudinal recesses on opposite sides of said slot, and strips of pliable material seated in said recesses and projecting slightly above said slot, the pliable strips having fine ribs and intervening grooves in their outer faces to prevent slipping of the-stocking and to effect proper spacing of the cross threads of the stocking.

29. A machine for mending runs in fabrics including'means for manipulating to close the latter, means for supporting the fabric in position to be operated on by the aforesaid means, one of said means being operable in a predetermined definite position and the other means being slidably mounted for movement at the will of the operator by hand relative to the means located in definite position, whereby to present the threads of the run successively to the means for closing the run.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 21 day of March, 1929.

JOSEPH S. PECKER. 

